Bengaluru, 11 March

Minister for Food and Civil Supplies KH Muniyappa on Wednesday said that there was no need for any concern over LPG supplies while urging people to be prudent with their gas usage.

“Give up one meal every Monday,” he told the press in Bengaluru.

Later, addressing the Assembly, he said the supply of commercial gas will be prioritised for essential services like hospitals and student hostels. "Hotels, those operating marriages and convention halls should cooperate in these difficult times, because we will have to look at the consumers first."

“Along with our secretary and commissioner, I held a meeting with oil companies -- BPCL, HPCL, Indian Oil and GAIL. There is no issue with domestic gas," Muniyappa said.

"They (companies) have said that their own production is to the tune of 20-30 per cent, and 70 per cent comes from other countries. Due to the Iran-Israel war, about ten vessels carrying oil to India are not allowed to move. Despite the situation, the companies will supply one cylinder to a family in 25 days. As per law, one cylinder of 14 kg can be used by a family of 4-5 people for one to one-and-a-half months," he said.

He said priority is being given to domestic supplies. "I request people not to use gas excessively, considering the present situation. They should ensure minimum use and not store or book additional cylinders unnecessarily."

‘Don’t Blackmail’

Muniyappa pointed out that the Essential Commodities Act was in place, and warned of action against black marketing or attempts to book multiple cylinders.

Earlier in the day, he had told reporters that the government would take action if required.

"Distributors cannot deny one cylinder a month to the consumers,” he had warned. “They will neither insist on such a restriction, nor have they said that supply will be stopped completely."

Uproar in Assembly over LPG

The House witnessed commotion over the issue, with heated exchanges between the ruling and Opposition benches.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Congress MLA Ranganath attributed the shortage of commercial LPG cylinders to the Modi government's "weak foreign policy".

His remarks triggered protests by Opposition BJP members, who accused him of "politicising" the conflict situation.

Minister Priyank Kharge claimed that public concern has grown after the Central government changed its stance in Parliament several times on the country’s energy reserves.   Kharge's comments, which referred to PM Modi's ties with US President Donald Trump and Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, enraged the BJP members.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah intervened, asking, "Who has to supply gas? It is the Centre; this is what we are saying."

The BJP legislators tried to counter by pointing to the alleged failures of the State government.

There was also a sharp exchange between the CM and Leader of Opposition R Ashoka, who accused the CM of "irresponsible behaviour and politicising" the commercial gas supply issue by supporting the shutdown by hotels and restaurants. Siddaramaiah denied the allegation, saying, "I did not instigate them for a shutdown."

BJP didn’t start the war: BYV slams Cong for ‘politicising’ LPG

State BJP President BY Vijayendra on Wednesday slammed the Congress for “indulging in cheap politicking” to score “political brownie points” on the issue of LPG. 

“Let me remind the Congress that the Gulf War was not triggered either by India or by BJP or even by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi,” he told the press outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“The topless Congress is also shameless. It is so unscrupulous that it takes advantage of a grave national and international crisis to further its political ends. It is because of this cheap politicking that the Grand Old Party has been rejected by the people for three consecutive terms,” Vijayendra said in Bengaluru.

The BJP state President asserted that Modi has been making the best out of a bad situation by trying to regulate the LPG production and distribution by giving priority to households.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje noted that India is not self-reliant in crude oil because. “About 80-90 per cent of India's crude oil requirement depends on the Middle East," she said. She added that the Centre is committed to solving the issue.